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There are many things to consider when buying a gas cooker! Whether it’s a freestanding cooker or something built-in, for example, you’ll likely need to consider how and where you want to set up your main oven.
No matter who you are or what your specific needs are, there are things that we all need to bear in mind when shopping for our new appliance! Here is a list of things to think about when you are buying a cooker.
What Should I Look For In A Gas Cooker?
As mentioned, there are lots of things you should be looking for when buying a freestanding gas cooker. Before we dive into the nitty gritty, let’s take a quick look at a checklist for what you might need from your ideal gas cooker.
8 Considerations when looking into setting up new gas cooker
- Consider the type of installation – a freestanding cooker, or a built-in oven.
- Consider the benefits of gas vs electric oven systems.
- Think about how much space you need from your main oven.
- Consider if dual fuel or pure gas is right for you.
- Look for range cookers for additional support.
- Think about double oven systems if you want to cook more at once.
- Think about cleaning – will the cooker you choose be easy to wipe down?
- Do also think about features cookers come with. Look at models with variable temperature. Look at grill fittings, multiple burners and the style of gas cooking on offer.
This is by no means the full list of what you should look for in the best gas cooker and hob. Far be it from us to dictate to you what works and what doesn’t! However, do take a look at our guides and buying recommendations for more advice.
What Size Gas Cooker Is Right For Me?
Gas ovens come in all kinds of different sizes and finding the right size for your kitchen space is essential. Did you know that, much like electric oven standards and electric cookers, there are no one or two standard sizes to gas ovens?
The first obvious question to ask yourself is: How many people do I usually cook for? Naturally, bigger families will want and need bigger gas ovens. Should you live on your own or with few people, a bigger oven will not be necessary and could be a waste of money. Needless to say, the bigger the oven, the bigger the price! Should you only need a relatively small oven then don’t be talked into buying a bigger one ‘just in case’.
If the oven ends up being too big then you will find that there are gas hob rings, compartments and/or spaces that you simply never use.
The right size oven will not only depend on you or the people that you live with, but also on your kitchen. If you are replacing your old oven or fitting a new one into a new home, making sure that your home is gas safe is of course rule number one!
Do also make sure that the space that you have to put your oven in is in fact large enough to take the oven! It would be a reckless mistake to buy an oven too quickly, without properly taking the time to take the measurements, and only finding out when it gets to your home that you cannot fit it.
How Much Money Should I Invest In My Gas Cooker?
Gas cooker prices will vary, though you will likely need to invest at least £200 – £300 in reputable models. That applies just as much to your average freestanding cooker as it does built-in gas cookers.
Plenty of gas cookers and gas hob systems are available at affordable prices nowadays and it is worth taking a look around at what’s out there. However, choosing an appliance based solely on the price is a bit reckless and could end up costing you more in the long run, should you need to replace it quickly.
Modern gas cookers, such as a range cooker, dual fuel cookers, etc, now come with an array of different features. Indeed, depending on the features you request, you could find yourself with a self-cleaning oven, dual fuel (using both gas ovens, gas hobs and electric hobs), and so on.
In an ideal world, we would all have all of the different gadgets out there at our disposal whenever we could ever possibly need them. However, the truth is that many of us do not need all of the different features that are available!
Ultimately, you need to look at the ‘going rate’ for the average cooker with all the features you actually need. That includes the best size for your main oven, the right number of gas hobs and more. Take a look at our buying guides if you get stuck!
How Difficult Will It Be To Maintain My Gas Cooker?
All kitchen appliances need taking care of, and your gas cooker is no exception! Unfortunately, there is no guarantee as to how easy your gas cooker will be to clean. It varies in terms of style, model and of course cost.
The bigger the cooker, the more features it will have, the more time you will have to spend cleaning it! Cleaning a cooker is time consuming, no matter the size of the appliance, as there are various surfaces and crevices that all need separate attention! Do bear that in mind when buying your new cooker. As useful as the appliance might be for your food, is it going to be too difficult to clean afterwards?
How Do I Choose A Good Gas Cooker?
Finding the right gas cooker for your household can take some time and might even get frustrating – but don’t worry!
The time that you invest into making the right choice will be rewarded with an appliance that you will be able to count on for as long as you need! But do check if your new gas cooker needs an electric supply too!
